With the recent ‘Storm Goretti’ having severely damaged the main grandstand at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, and there culminating problems, by amicable agreement the Cornish Pirates will play their Round 14 game in the Champ at Camborne this Saturday (ko 2pm).

Despite the change of venue, and with sincere appreciation extended to the Camborne club, a big crowd is expected at their Recreation ground where, it will be remembered, the Pirates played for four seasons up to becoming first time winners of the British & Irish Cup in May 2010, when they joyously emerged 23-14 winners against Munster.

The Pirates will now be keen to put in strong performances in the second half of the season, and on Saturday they will be particularly delighted to welcome flanker Alex Everett back to fitness. He will also captain the side.

Commenting ahead of this weekend, Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle has said:

“We are looking forward to Saturday having not played since the game away to Coventry on New Year’s Day. A plus has though been an opportunity to rest bodies and minds ahead of our task in the second half of the season, which is to hopefully climb up the league table after having lost five on the bounce.

“Despite the loss at Coventry last time out I feel it was a performance that we could at least hang our hat on in terms of physicality, and with more numbers coming back and available, including among them Alex Everett who is chomping at the bit to return to action, it has helped in our training.

“As for Saturday and the change of venue, firstly sincere thanks to Camborne for agreeing to accommodate us this weekend following our problems suffered at the Mennaye in relation to Storm Goretti. It is not ideal at short notice, but we are very thankful, and it is a familiar ground where Alan (joint head coach Alan Paver) and I have played at in the past, as for us has Wardy (Ampthill’s head coach Dave Ward).

“Overall, ahead of the game I think the way we have acted in difficult circumstances off field, and the response of Penzance & Newlyn and the Cornish Pirates working in tandem, has been transparent, and the Mennaye should hopefully be available for us to play again very soon.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matty Ward 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Sol Moody 3 Alfie Petch 4 Charlie Rice 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Matt Pritchard 17 Billy Young 18 Ollie Andrews 19 Milo Hallam 20 Alfie Bell 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Louie Sinclair 23 Ben Cambriani.

Referee:   Hamish Grant

Assistants:   Mike Lamb & James Pidding

Official 4:   Will Williams

Match Day Sponsor:   Trewithen Dairy